Taking a Breath
Sometimes a break in the action is needed to get the game back on track.
Thus says the high and lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy, "I dwell in the high and holy place and also with the one who has a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble and to revive the heart of the contrite." Isaiah 57:15
Today's opening sentence from Isaiah reminds us that God is with us and seeks to help us when we are open to Him.
One of the things I learned throughout my career is the need to back off and take a break, to give others a chance to step up and give ourselves a chance to regroup. Working in a bank, we were required to take two weeks vacation together; we couldn't break it up and take a few days here and a few there.
The reasoning behind it was to make sure people were not doing anything illegal. Within two weeks, any process that was being tampered with would come to light.
The work continues when we are away, and that is a good thing. It gives others a chance to shine as well as helping to reveal any wrong doing.
The same is true in our spiritual lives. We need time to step back and take a breath. The difference is we don't do that by stepping away, but by stepping down from our lofty places and giving ourselves a break.
We are not designed to carry the weight of the world on our shoulders. Unless we take a break and put down the weights, we will find ourselves crushed by them.
I was talking with someone yesterday who is having a hard time managing the weight on her shoulders. Her daughter is recovering from a double mastectomy and reconstructive surgery and her healing is not going well.
Mom is trying to be a help, but Mom is in need of comfort and help herself. She needs to take a breath and let God help her through this.
Ah, but Moms are Moms, and they don't take a break when their children need them.
When we are overwhelmed and overloaded, that is when we need to hand over our burden to God and let Him help us carry it. It isn't easy. We feel we are giving up or giving in, but like the much needed vacation time that renews and brings all to the light, a brief respite can help.
We know we can't do everything, and yet we try. So, what do we do when someone we love needs help and we are helpless?
We pray for God's help, and we let Him guide us.
It may mean we have to give up the feeling that we are responsible. Just for a moment, in our humility, we may need to say, "I can't" or "I don't know."
In the silence of the breath we take, we may find a still voice telling us how we can and what we do know.
So, for all who are struggling and over burdened, we pray this day. Lord, help them to take a break and take a breath with You, so that in Your embrace they may find comfort and strength and wisdom, and will be able to go on renewed and refreshed. We pray this in Jesus' name. Amen.
More to come...